Disability Information Student Handbook

Section Two: Using Disability Services and Accommodations

Legal AspectsRights And Responsibilities

The Foothill-De Anza Community College District has adopted a set of policies defining Student Rights and Responsibilities for the general student body (Board Administrative Policy 5500, Student Rights and Responsibilities). In addition, applicable federal laws (the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the federal Rehabilitation Act, Sections 504 and 508), and state law (Title 5, California State Education Code (Sections 56000-56044) also help define the roles that both the student and the college have in assuring equal access and using special services. These are summarized as follows.

Student Rights

Equal access to courses, programs, services, jobs, and facilities of the College.

Option to file a complaint by using the college and district guidelines.

Privacy of records maintained by the DSPS Division Programs as outlined in Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Voluntary participation in DSP&S programs and services.

Information available in accessible formats.

Timely provision of authorized accommodations.

Freedom from harassment and discrimination.

Student Responsibilities

Provide documentation that verifies an “impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities, as defined in 28 C.F.R. 35.104, and which imposes an educational limitation” (Title 5, Sec. 56002).

Meet essential technical, academic and institutional standards with or without accommodations.

Submit accommodation requests in a timely and complete manner.

Follow established policies, guidelines and procedures of the DSP&S programs for obtaining accommodations, academic adjustments and /or auxiliary aids.

Make “measurable progress” as defined by the De Anza College academic standards and the Student Educational Contract.

Maintain current documentation and inform the counselor/ advisor of changes that may affect accommodation requests.

Comply with all college policies, procedures, academic standards and student code of conduct as outlined in the current schedule of classes and college catalog.

Meet at least once quarterly with your counselor or advisor to maintain a current “Student Educational Contract” (SEC) and update your contract annually.

Follow established procedures to report concerns and complaints (See Concerns and Complaints).

DSPS Rights

Maintain the academic standards of the college.

Require current documentation of disability by an appropriate outside professional in order to verify the need for reasonable accommodations prior to providing it.

Discuss the appropriate accommodations deemed necessary with the verifying professional and with the student’s consent.

Verify with campus entities that the student has provided all necessary documentation and that the accommodations are appropriate for the educational limitations deemed by DSPS.

Select among equally effective and appropriate accommodations in consultation with the student.

Deny an accommodation which is not supported by documentation, is not requested in a timely way, or if it is unreasonable or inappropriate for any of these reasons:

Poses a direct threat to the health & safety of others

Constitutes a substantial change or alteration to an essential element of the program

Poses an undue financial or administrative burden

Suspend services in the event that a student fails to meet required DSPS service guidelines.

DSPS Responsibilities

Authorize reasonable and appropriate accommodations based on disability documentation.

Coordinate provision of reasonable accommodations that have been requested in a timely manner.

Advocate for access for students with disabilities in all campus programs and activities.

Evaluate effectiveness of accommodations with students.

Provide information regarding policies, guidelines and procedures and inform students of disciplinary and appeal processes.

Maintain confidentiality of records except where disclosure is required or permitted by law, or authorized by the student.